Picture This! Promoting Positive Supports Through Creative Arts Activities
Brief Biography
Chris holds degrees from the University of Georgia, the University of Houston, Vermont College of Norwich University and Columbus College. She has worked in the field of education for 34 years. 32 of those involved working directly with disconnected, severely emotionally and behaviorally disabled youth.
Chris is currently the Director of GNETS' Mainstay Academy. She will sometimes say that she grew up there. She was a classroom teacher, a clinical art therapist, and an adolescent coordinator in that program before becoming the director. She is committed to the ongoing development of "teacher therapists" through professional learning and coaching; and she still loves working directly with youth. Chris is devoted to her work, but she seeks personal balance by doing creative things - gardening, cooking (with family), photography, pottery, drawing, painting and sometimes writing poetry.
Chris is married and has two adult children. Her family enjoys exploring nature and traveling the world. She and her husband live in a "Green" house that they designed and built a few years ago.
Highest Degree of Presenter(s)
Specialist in Education, Registered Art Therapist
Presentation Abstract
This hands-on workshop is designed to provide adults who work with and live with youth first-hand experience using the arts to promote positive relationships and cultures in classrooms, therapy groups and families.
We must understand the young people we are working (and living) with before we can build appropriate relationships, set appropriate expectations, and provide meaningful sometimes healing experiences for them. Through active investigation and carefully planned experiences, we can better understand the young people we work (and live) with, and with better understanding we can better plan experiences that promote the development of positive behavior and relationships.
Ms. Briggs will facilitate a number of short creative arts activities designed to promote positive supports, understanding and relationship development and provide positive shared experiences. (Positive shared experiences also promote the development of positive relationships.) Through these activities, Ms. Briggs will provide a brief review of development as it relates to a child's needs, interests, fears and abilities. With that additional information, teachers, mental health workers and parents will be more aware of the adult role they need to have when working with various youth.
These activities will challenge participants (and youth) to think creatively. They promote higher order thinking and mindfulness, and are designed to address various developmental challenges and needs. They provide ways to investigate personal experiences and offer creative outlets for feelings and ideas. These activities should be viewed as "seeds" for participants to take away, plant, fertilize, grow and multiply!
Recommended Citation
Briggs, Chris, "Picture This! Promoting Positive Supports Through Creative Arts Activities" (2015). Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference. 58.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gapbs/2015/2015/58
Picture This! Promoting Positive Supports Through Creative Arts Activities
This hands-on workshop is designed to provide adults who work with and live with youth first-hand experience using the arts to promote positive relationships and cultures in classrooms, therapy groups and families.
We must understand the young people we are working (and living) with before we can build appropriate relationships, set appropriate expectations, and provide meaningful sometimes healing experiences for them. Through active investigation and carefully planned experiences, we can better understand the young people we work (and live) with, and with better understanding we can better plan experiences that promote the development of positive behavior and relationships.
Ms. Briggs will facilitate a number of short creative arts activities designed to promote positive supports, understanding and relationship development and provide positive shared experiences. (Positive shared experiences also promote the development of positive relationships.) Through these activities, Ms. Briggs will provide a brief review of development as it relates to a child's needs, interests, fears and abilities. With that additional information, teachers, mental health workers and parents will be more aware of the adult role they need to have when working with various youth.
These activities will challenge participants (and youth) to think creatively. They promote higher order thinking and mindfulness, and are designed to address various developmental challenges and needs. They provide ways to investigate personal experiences and offer creative outlets for feelings and ideas. These activities should be viewed as "seeds" for participants to take away, plant, fertilize, grow and multiply!
